Lineups, Pedro and more

As we blogged earlier this morning, Lou drew a Blanco on the big changes he had planned for the lineup. Here is how both Chicago teams go today:
White Sox
Pods, LF
Ramirez, SS
Dye, RF
Konerko, 1B
A.J., C
Anderson, CF
Getz, 2B
Beckham, 3B
Floyd, P
Cubs
Soriano, LF
Theriot, SS
Bradley, RF
Lee, 1B
Soto, C
Fontenot, 2B
Fukudome, CF
Blanco, 2B
Zambrano, P
So it's essentially Blanco for Aaron Miles, and Fukudome is back in there.
"Not right now," Lou said of any changes. "We're giving it some thought...Look, I've got confidence in these guys. I've said that all along, but gosh, we've got to see something. Me having confidence is good. But actually, it's got to translate into some offense on the field, and it hasn't. Invariably, I'm going to have to do things I don't want to do, and hopefully, I won't have to. What can I say?"
Lou could say that Soriano is hitting sixth or seventh or sitting out a couple days. His OBP is .291. He's 14-for-99 (.141) over his last 23 games. He's gone 24 games without a multihit game. He hasn't homered since June 7. He's having trouble fielding, and he can't run.
On the Pedro Martinez front, Cubs people remind me that all the talk is coming out of the Martinez camp. Yes, they tell me, Martinez did throw for the Cubs, at the player's request and that it looks like he's got something left in the tank. However, the Cubs do not appear hot to sign Pedro. Their starting pitching is solid, they have no money and they already have a 5-inning pitcher in Rich Harden.
"No, sir," Lou said in response to my question of whether he has talked to GM Jim Hendry about Pedro. "It's never come up, to be honest with you. It's never come up. In fact, since the start of the season, not one name has come up, whether it be pitching or hitting in the two and a half months. Nothing's come up. And Pedro certainly hasn't. Now, Jim might tell you differently, but I'm not aware of anything."
As I said about Peavy, Pedro isn't the cure for what ails the Cubs.
Check out the earlier blogs, especially where I've asked for you input on possible lineup changes. Maybe I'll give 'em to Lou. Then again, maybe not.

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Chicago's Inside Pitch

Total Posts: 2300

Bruce Miles and Scot Gregor

Bruce Miles has been covering the Chicago Cubs for the Daily Herald since 1998, and major-league baseball since 1989. He grew up in Chicago and is one of those rare birds who followed both the Cubs and White Sox.

Along with Cubs radio announcer Pat Hughes, Bruce co-authored the book, "Harry Caray: Voice of the Fans."

He checks in on the fan blogs and is a daily reader of Baseball Prospectus.

Scot Gregor has been covering the Chicago White Sox for the Daily Herald since 1994, and major-league baseball since 1990.

He grew up in Pittsburgh, where he idolized Roberto Clemente. Scott graduated high school in 1979, when the Steelers and the Pirates were both the best in the world.